NOTE: Updates on immigration to Norway can be found below.
When moving to another country there are many legal procedures you have to go through. This can be very daunting, especially when you don't speak the language. I can understand why they use the term 'alien', because you can certainly feel like one. Being questioned about your details and intentions over and over can be emotionally and morally exhausting especially when there is no guarantee that your permit will be granted. The process can make you feel like a suspect in a criminal investigation and you only have your paper information to get you off. It doesn't matter whether you are a good person, do loads of charity work or are the greatest mum in the world, if you don't have the correct paper work you can be stuck in limbo for years.
The main thing that helped me through the process (besides a wonderful husband) is being 'informed'. I read everything I could about the process. I would call up the embassy to ask questions on what I couldn't find answers to on the internet. I sort for definitions of language terms. I researched Norwegian immigration law and about my rights. I studied the application process and made sure I knew exactly what the authorities would do and what they needed from me. I even gathered extra documented information about myself just in case there was a 'hiccup'. When I went to my interviews I felt very prepared and confident and I think the Norwegian authorities appreciated my openness and willingness to do whatever I could to ensure a smooth process.
As I feel that knowledge and information was key to a smooth application process, below I have provided some information from my own personal experience to be used as a general starting point for those who are looking into working and living in Norway. Please feel free to ask me any questions in the comments section so all can benefit from the answers. I hope you find the information useful and interesting.

How to get Work and Residency Permits for Norway

There are four main avenues of obtaining a permit to live and work in Norway: employment, family, study and asylum. This is a general guide. For more information please go to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration www.udi.no. Below is a contents list for easier navigation:
Work Permits
General
For EU/EEA/EFTA citizens
Norwegian Language
Different Work Permits for Norway
Family Immigration Permits
Family Reunification
Defacto relationship
Fiancé Permit
Reunification Red Tape
Settlement Permit and CitizenshipStudent Resident PermitAsylum Seekers and Refugees
General
Ramifications of withholding information or giving misleading information
From Asylum Seeker to Refugee
Seeking Asylum from within Norway
Seeking Asylum outside of Norway
Visiting Norway – Visas

Work Permits

Norway has very low unemployment, high wages and very good work conditions. If you want to work in Norway you need to be highly skilled, have great education and be in a field that is in high demand (usually in the oil industry, universities, and health industries).
The process is simple enough. Once you find an employer to sponsor you, in your resident country fill in and send your work permit form to your Norwegian Foreign service mission. Then wait. Waiting times can vary (and the government is trying to speed up the process for employers) but expect at least three months from a western country and more from a non-western country.
One of the elements that the Norwegian authorities don’t seem to make clear is that to get a Work Permit you need an offer of employment. However, most employers will not offer employment unless you have a Work Permit. (Catch22) This is because a work permit takes a long time to process and, in general, you will not be able to enter Norway before it is approved. In fact, firstly you have had to live in your country of residence for at least six months before applying, you have to apply in your country of residence for a Norwegian Work Permit, and then stay there until your application is approved. This is generally a long wait for employers, who don’t have the time and money to wait for your permits to clear.

For EU/EEA/EFTA citizens
In general, if you are a citizen of the European Union, European Economic Area or European Free Trade Association it is easier for you to travel and live in Norway. You can start working as soon as you arrive but after three months will need to apply for a permit. If you are looking for employment you can live in Norway for up to six months without a permit.
Certain countries (generally the Balkans) have extra rules to follow also. There are exceptions for foreign workers such as journalists, professional sports people, flight attendants, performers etc. Many workers come to Norway for a three month work season and then return to their home country.
Norwegian Language
Another factor working against you getting employment is language. In general, to get good work in Norway it is essential that you know the language. There are only a very small percentage of employers who take on people who don’t speak Norwegian (or Swedish/Danish). A lot of immigrants who have degrees and great work experience have to take on cleaning and babysitting jobs because they don’t know Norwegian. This can be frustrating as most Norwegians can speak English. But because of the pride in their language, Norwegians expect you to learn Norwegian if you want to live in Norway. Taking Norwegian language classes can give you brownie points for employment but not until you get the basic language certificate (which takes at least six months full time to complete) most employers will look over you.
When you have received a Work Permit you will most likely need to re-apply every year or when you change employer. You can also apply for your family to be with you in Norway while you are working. Note that there may be special conditions of employment in regards to a Work Permit – such as learning Norwegian or returning to your home country after termination. Also please see the section Family Reunification and Settlement and Citizenship for more information.
Different Work Permits for Norway:
Artist/Musician (or accompanying assistant)
Au pair – for young people to live with Norwegian families
Charity and humanitarian organisations
Ethnic cooks (under the rules for skilled workers/specialists – this does not include “ordinary” chefs)
Development of Norwegian trade
Diplomat (must be registered with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign)
Foreign state companies and multinational companies
Group permit (for temporary work/project)
Guest worker (granted to foreign nationals for farm/garden work and live with farming family
Journalists/media staff
Market trader (for Russian citizens in the Barents region)
Missionary
Necessary co-worker for the performance of a contract (temporary)
Peace Corps participant
Researcher/scholarship holder/lecturer
Seamen
Seasonal worker (such as farm work)
Short term specialist
Skilled worker/specialist (work experience equivalent to a three year university degree)
Sole trading (granted to people who intend to start their own business)
Sportsperson/trainer
Student (part-time work - up to 20hours)
Temporary permit (special – only grated to those who are likely to find work) ly when the permit)
Trainee (vocational training)
Work experience after completing studies
Work on the continental shelf
Worker in the fish processing industry (for Russian nationals from the Barents region)
Working holiday (granted to persons from Australia or New Zealand – must be under 31 years)
Youth exchange

Family Immigration Permits

Family immigration is known as Family Reunification in Norway. To immigrate via Family Reunification you need to either: have a family member who is a Norwegian/Nordic citizen and you wish to join them in Norway, or your family member has a settlement permit in Norway (or a work/residency permit for more than three years) and you wish to join them. There are various differences between immigration with EU/EEA/EFTA permits and non- EU/EEA/EFTA permits. When a Family Reunification has been granted you receive both a resident and work permit. In general, family reunification only applies to immediate family members.
To apply:
You must apply from your country of residence (must have been living there for at least six months).
In general, YOU must apply and not your family member in Norway (unless, of course you under 18 – which required a lot more paper work from both parents).
Your family member in Norway needs to sponsor you – meaning they need to house you and provide for all your needs. Your sponsor needs an income of at least NOK200,000 (more for each family member applying). This does not mean you have to sponge off them – if the permit is granted, once you get to Norway you will be given a personal number and will be free to work.
You need to provide documentation of relationship – birth/marriage certificates. (If you are in a defacto relationship you need to have lived together outside Norway for at least two years prior to application – and be able to document it – both names on elect bills, rent bills etc.)
This process can take anywhere from six months to two years depending on which country you come from. Of course, with children the Norwegian authorities try to speed up the process but it is likely to still take at least three months.
Fiancé Permit
This is a special permit for people engaged to be married. A Fiancé Permit allows you to reside in Norway until you are married to your Norwegian citizen (you usually have to marry within three to six months). Once you are married you then apply for Family Reunification within Norway. However, the Norwegian authorities will hold onto your passport until they have finished your application for Family Reunification. Therefore you will not be able to leave the country until you receive your passport, which can take at least six to 12 months at the earliest.
Reunification Red Tape
There are a lot of issues that you need to face going through the Family Reunification process; you could face months or years away from your partner, you could have to pay large amounts of money, have a lawyer and after doing every thing right, crossing all the ‘T’s etc your application can still be rejected.
To stop forced marriages or marriages of ‘convenience’, especially if you or your partner is from a country that allows forced or even multiple marriages, the process includes intense interviews with you and your spouse along with a very long application process. They need to check your whole history in your home country. In later years they may even choose to come into your home and check your living (whether you are sleeping in the same bed, whether you know each other’s personal lives, etc) and also interview family and friends. I guess because I am married to a Norwegian citizen I have only been asked to get signatures of witnesses to verify that I am in a ‘regular’ marriage relationship with my spouse – so far. Immigration is a very serious business.
Some countries are reluctant to give up their citizens. The U.S.A is known to drag on the application process for months (even years) as they do not take lightly giving up their citizens. I have had a couple of friends from the U.S who have had their application to reside in Norway rejected because the U.S didn’t clear them. One particular friend had a ridiculous outcome. She had been married to a Norwegian citizen in the U.S. for 15 years and they had two children together. Her husband and youngest son were approved to stay in Norway but she and her oldest son (under 16) were rejected and were being forced to return to the U.S. They had to lawyer up, create a media frenzy and even sue in order to allow the whole family to stay together in Norway.
It is not an easy road for people who are applying for Family Reunification with a non-Norwegian citizen either. This process is more expensive, more time consuming and more intrusive. I have an English friend who is married to a Polynesian with a Settlement Permit for Norway. Even though they are in love and have done all the right things for a residency permit for my English friend, the government is taking their application process to new extremes and it is causing them a lot of frustration and inconvenience.

Settlement Permit and Citizenship

After you have been granted a Family Reunification permit you have to reapply every year. After three years you can apply for a Settlement Permit, which allows you to reside in Norway indefinitely, and you will not need to reapply for permits. However, there are special requirements to obtaining a Settlement Permit such as documenting at least 300 hours of Norwegian language lessons.
After seven years of combined Residency and Settlement Permits you are ‘invited’ to become a Citizen. It is almost expected that you become a Citizen of Norway and is necessary to receiving all the rights and privileges of living in Norway. One of the privileges of becoming a Citizen is more job opportunities. As Norway is a social-democratic country a large portion of the job market is with the State. You cannot work for the State unless you are a Norwegian Citizen. People who have become Citizens prove their commitment to Norway and are highly valued.
However, in Norway you are unable to hold a dual Citizenship except under special circumstances (like your parents are from two different countries etc.) This means that if you want to become a Norwegian Citizen you will need to renounce your Citizenship to your home country first, usually via application, which tells your home country that you do not wish to be a Citizen anymore. This is very serious stuff. Some countries will consider you are traitor for doing this. (Also, your home country can reject your application because you have debt or have committed a crime, etc.) Then after you have successfully renounced your Citizenship from your home country, you then apply for Citizenship for Norway. I’ve always wondered – what happens if Norway rejects your application to be a Citizen?

Student Resident Permit

One of the great things about living in Norway is that education is free! This is because universities and colleges are owned by the State. There are some private institutions but they do not compare to the larger universities. All residents in Norway/Nordic Countries can apply for free tuition through the Norwegian university admissions service. However, even though tuition is free, living is not and so you need to make sure you either have enough money or enough scholarship to survive. If you are not a resident there are many different ways to study in Norway but only one way to receive a Student Resident Permit. As usual, it is a little easier if you are from the EU/EEA/EFTA, but here is a general guide for everyone:
To apply:
You must apply from your country of residence (must have been living there for at least six months) and the terms for application include you returning to your country of residence after your studies.
You must hand in your application in person to a Norwegian foreign mission service.
You need to provide which course, university etc plus a letter of acceptance from the Norwegian university
You need to document your finances to prove you can afford to live in Norway (this depends on where you will be studying) – bank account, scholarships etc.
You need to document housing for your period of stay.
There are a couple of choices in how to study:

International Exchange – this is where you study for six to 12 months in Norway as part of your regular course from your country of residence. Your university will generally need an agreement with a particular university in Norway. Usually your university will do all the legwork for you too. You can also apply through exchange programmes set up by the university – as an example from UIT: programs such as ERASMUS, North2North, Nordplus, Nordlys, Barentsplus.
Full Degree Program – as far as I’m aware there are no degrees offered in English in Norway at major universities. You might get some at colleges such as drama etc. Even though some courses might have some subjects in English it is still a requirement that you know enough Norwegian to do a degree at any Norwegian university. (This is how they trick you – even though university is free to anyone, you need to speak, read and write Norwegian to have access.)
Free Mover/Self-financing – these are students who can get into any course they want (meaning you don’t need to go through the university admission process) however, you will then need to pay for your course. You can take up to two semesters of English subjects (or Norwegian subjects if you can document Norwegian language proficiency) as a Free Mover student. Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) says that students from outside EU/EEA must document that they have at least NOK 42 500 per semester (approximately US$ 8000 / 5500 Euro) before being allowed to study.
Masters/PhD – a lot of Masters courses are in English. You can either apply as a self-financing student or if you are a resident of Norway/Nordic country (even some EU/EEA) you can apply through the university admissions (which is free!) Of course, you can be on a scholarship, exchange etc as well.
See the Study in Norway website for more information.

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

This is always a hot topic in Norway. I am often amazed at how much Norwegians know about the government’s process with Asylum Seekers and Refugees, and especially of the ways applicants try to beat the system. The proper way to apply for Asylum is to provide as much information about yourself and your situation as possible so the Norwegian authorities can make a proper decision. However, it is very rare for Seekers to do this. They often arrive in Norway with no papers, claiming they don’t know where they came from. Seekers are also known to destroy their official documents once they have arrived in Norway thinking that it will help them to stay. They also do not give up any information about themselves, their family or where they are from. This certainly has ramifications down the line.
In order to gain asylum the Seeker needs to prove that in returning to their country of origin they would face great persecution based on religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Only when sufficient information has been given/obtained on the asylum case will the Norwegian authorities make an assessment as to whether the Asylum Seeker is entitled to receive residence on humanitarian grounds. If the Seeker does not provide the correct information they can expect to spend years ‘in the system’ and at Reception Centres (nicer words for Asylum camps).
The main ‘ramification’ of withholding information or giving misleading information to authorities is that Seekers always get found out. Nowadays, Norway uses a bunch of different methods to play detective:
Language analysis is used to access information about a Seekers place of origin and ethnic background. This is used particularly when a Seeker has no identity papers.
Age examinations are used when it seems the Seeker has not stated their correct age. This examination is used in questionable cases from Seekers trying to get the benefits of ‘unaccompanied minor’.
Country observation and information is another tool the Norwegian authorities use. Norway has many diplomatic and accredited agents in many countries that report or verify asylum cases. Norwegian authorities are acutely aware of actions and conditions in war torn countries around the world. This knowledge is vital in deciding whether a Seeker has a need for asylum.
Another problem down the line for Seekers who lie or withhold information is the denial of certain privileges:
Many countries will not allow these Seekers to enter and can get turned back or detained at airports. I had a Seeker friend from Pakistan who was refused entry into Russia – he was just going to visit his girl friend for three days and then return to Norway. He was stopped at the airport because he had an ‘immigrant’ passport – a special passport provided by the asylum-granting country because the Seeker has no identifying documents. My friend was detained for a day then sent back without any compensation.
These Seekers can also stop their chances for education. I worked with a Seeker from Sudan who won a full scholarship to an American university. Unfortunately the United States government wouldn’t approve his visa as he had an ‘immigrant’ passport. My colleague had to turn down his university offer.
Another issue with Seekers withholding information or lying is that they will need to tell the truth if they want to bring family members to Norway. For Family Reunification the country of origin must be known, as well as age, names and relationships. However, revealing different information than first provided can jeopardise a Seekers asylum/refugee status.
Mostly Seekers lie or withhold information because of fear or misunderstanding, but sometimes it is for more sinister reasons – like escaping persecution for war crimes committed. A new problem for these types of Asylum Seekers is that Norwegian law does not protect them from being tried and punished for their war crimes. Just recently the first case of an Asylum Seeker turned Citizen was held, tried and imprisoned for war crimes he committed in another country 20 years ago. Norway is the great humanitarian but it will not tolerate injustice.
From Asylum Seeker to Refugee
Not everyone tries to cheat the system. Most of the Asylum Seekers I know are just golden. They have good cause to be in Norway. In my Norwegian classes I get to meet many refugees – an Iraqi journalist who brought his family here to escape persecution and death threats, a Libyan mother who brought her sons here to save them from the militia, even an American who was being persecuted by his government for his political views! We often form a bond as we learn together how to live in a strange new country.
Seeking Asylum from within Norway
When seeking Asylum from within Norway the process can be very quick. If the applicant is truthful and upfront with authorities the process of turning from Asylum Seeker to Refugee will take between 48 hours to three weeks! During this waiting time applicants will need to make a personal declaration and be thoroughly interviewed. They will usually stay at a Reception Centre until the application has been processed. If the application is denied they will be sent back to their country of residence. If the application is accepted, their status will change to ‘Refugee’ and will be given a home in refugee housing somewhere in the country.

Seeking Asylum outside of Norway
Not every Asylum Seeker has money or papers to get to Norway to apply inland. However, there is a way through special application programs organised by the U.N. to apply for asylum in war torn countries. Many countries tell the U.N. how many Asylum Seekers they can accept each year. The U.N. organises application processes for Seekers. When an application is approved the Seeker (and their family) is shipped off to the next country on the list. Most Seekers would prefer to go to the UK or U.S.A, however, this process works on a ‘first come first served’ basis – if Norway is the next country on the list that is where you are going. I know some Seekers who have written other countries down on their forms as first preferences but ended up with Norway instead, however, I find they are still very happy. But really, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter what country a Seeker ends up in, does it? - just as long as they are safe and free.

Visiting Norway - Visas

Please note that as a general rule all foreign nationals require a visa to visit Norway. There are some exceptions but you need to confirm with proper authorities. Please visit Who needs a Visa from the UDI website for more details.

Hey,
Great article !! Looks like done a lot of research to produce this material. I have a question for you and I’m sure out of your experience, you can help me with a relevant response.

I’m 26 years of age and an citizen of India. I hold a valid work permit for Norway and I work as a specialized worker (consultant) for one the reputed companies here. Recently, I have applied for a Family Re-union work permit for my Spouse from India. As, I understand from your article; this may take about 6 months to 2 years to get through; whereas information from the UDI website states that it could take a minimum of 60 days. Can you please clarify, in general how much time does it normally take on a average. Also, as you mentioned the minimum period is about 6 months, is there any provision for me to have my case prioritized i.e. any legal means by which we can appeal to the authorities to grant the approval as early as possible?

I hope my query is not too complicated. Any, response would be highly appreciable.

regards,
vineet.

____________________from L-Jay:
Hi Vineet!

Just to clarify some information from UDI:
Family Reunification Application for Work Permit Holders:
On the Skilled Worker/Specialist English page is says:Permit holder’s entitlement
Family members of a skilled worker/specialist may come to Norway under the rules for family immigration. If the family’s application is submitted at the same time as the application for the principal person, these will be processed together.

You and your spouse could have applied together to make things easier and faster, but if you got married after your application then of course you would need to make another application for your spouse. Unfortunately, there is no fast track for Family Reunification Permits. You will have to follow the same procedures as everyone else. I would suggest you apply ASAP.

Case-Processing time:
On the Case-Processing Time English pages it says it can take 6-12 months for the case processing time (if more information needs to be obtained).

Time Before Processing
The thing that they don’t tell you is that even though it may take up to six months to process your spouses application, it might actually take the authorities six months to START the process! The authorities get thousands of applications and everyone has to wait their turn. When your spouse will get called in for their interview that is when the case-processing will start, unfortunately it might take a couple of months for your spouse to be called in.
You never can tell how long it will take. I’ve been through this process twice for Norway. I applied once from within Norway and then once when I was a resident in the UK. My cases were very straightforward. From within Norway it only took four months from the time I first filed my application. On my second application from London, even though I was already ‘in the system’ with a personal number it took nine months to process.

Reliant on Resident Country
Another reason why it can take so long, is not the work of the Norwegian authorities, but the work of the country of residence. Some countries are slow to act and sometimes even reluctant to give up their residents. Some countries don’t keep good records and even try to frustrate the process. So I guess the time it takes will largely depend on India’s migration process.

Arranged, Forced or Marriage of Convenience
One last reason why it might take longer that specifically applies to India is ‘arranged marriages’. In Norway it is against the law for someone to be forced into marriage and a marriage may not even be recognised by Norwegian authorities if it has been ‘arranged’ or forced. You both might need to go through strict control procedures through interviews and even observation over the years to ensure your marriage is appropriate in accordance to Norwegian law. I must add that this is not discrimination. I’m from Australia, a country that doesn’t practice or approve of arranged marriages but yet I have still gone through the same process as you will most likely go through. It’s just the game of immigration.

This post was so interesting and informative for me as it is something that I may need to start thinking about sometime in the (scarily) near future.

I dare say I will be asking you more and more questions, Hans bought me a book called ‘A Guide to Living and Working in Norway’ which contains all the basic info but there is nothing like someone who has been through it themselves.

Hi L-Jay,
Just to add on to Becky’s comment….honestly, I’m extremely thrilled and amazed to know your investigation about the whole immigration practice. Though, you mentioned about RED TAPISM, you have gone a step beyond which most of them have failed to look and crack the myth on how the system functions.

Finally, I would like to thank you for spending your valuable time and please excuse me, if I have to bother you again in future 🙂

I plan to visit Norway from Canada this summer and possibly marry when I get there ? What problems could I face trying to stay ?

____________________from L-Jay:
Hi Kathleen!
If you are a national from Canada (meaning you are a citizen) then you can enter and stay in Norway for up to 90 days without a visa. In says on http://www.udi.no:

A visa is not required for nationals of countries with which Norway has signed a visa waiver agreement. Nationals of countries with a visa waiver may stay in Norway for up to 90 days. The countries with which Norway has a visa waiver agreement are:

C: Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic

You will need to marry your partner within the 90 days of your stay. However, there is also an option of getting a Fiancée Permit through the Family Immigration. This allows you to stay in the country – live and work – for up to six months but within this time you need to get married. Also you can only apply for the Fiancée Permit in Canada, and stay there until it is approved.

If you want to stay in Norway, once married, you then need to apply for a Family Reunification Permit/Family Immigration.

Red Tape:

Fiancée Permit – it is hard to document that you are a ‘fiancée’ especially if your partner is in Norway. You will need to provide documents of your civil status (usually a lawyer, judge, JP etc will need to sign a declaration that you are a fiancée). If you will be coming to Norway without a job your partner will need to send you his details of earnings and housing to support you while in Norway.

Cost of Marriage in Norway – the cost of marriage is expensive in just ‘hiring’ the priest or civil servant. Also you will probably need to book months in advance for their services. Very few will be willing to do the service any other place than their Church or Office. You will probably need to book their services before you even enter Norway, which can be difficult as priests would likely want to meet with you and advise you before the service is booked.

Family Reunification – when you apply for this permit you will need to hand in your passport. They will keep it until your permit has been approved – they say it takes three to six months, but it is more likely a year. Therefore, you will not be able to leave the country during this time as you will have no travel documents.

Dear L-Jay,
Hope you’re doing well. Must thank you for your postings, I enjoy reading your articles. Well, I have another question for you:

I hold a work permit for Norway, is it legally possible to apply for a tourist Visa for my spouse and invite her within the country. And, once she is here I file for a Dependant visa for her. I’m asking this because I believe the tourist visa is issued really quick and I also I vaguely remember one distant friend of mine recommending this approach. Can you please share your view?

regards,
vineet.
________________from L-Jay:

The tourist visa is actually a requirement for the Schengen Area for certain nationalities. Other nationalities don’t require a visa at all. (This link will take you to the UDI page saying ‘Who Needs a Visa’:http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=7403) However, all entering the Schengen Area (with Visa or without a Visa) agree to stay no more than the maximum time limit – 90 days in a six month period.

In regards to bringing your spouse to Norway – if they need a Visa to enter the Schengen Area then, in general, they cannot apply for Family Reunification inside of Norway. If your spouse gets a Tourist Visa they can stay 90 days out of six months but then must return back to their country of residence in order to apply for Family Reunification.

In applying for Family Reunification the UDI website says:

In general, you may not enter Norway before a permit has been granted. Therefore you can not apply from Norway. If you are not required to have a visa, you may, however, enter the country and apply from Norway in certain cases. These include when:

* Your spouse is a Norwegian national who resides or who intends to take up residence in Norway.
* Your spouse has a settlement permit or a permit which can constitute grounds for a settlement permit

I personally was able to enter Norway and then apply for Family Reunification from within Norway because 1. I didn’t need a visa to enter the Schengen Area being an Australian citizen, and 2. I was marrying a Norwegian citizen. In your case, I wouldn’t try to ‘beat the system’. It doesn’t work and it may give you a ‘bad conduct’ rap with the immigration authorities.

I would suggest for your spouse to contact the Norwegian Embassy in their country of residence to get clarification.

Hi,
This is a great article… I found this when i was searching for some infromation on UDI about couples[Indian Nationality] living here on a work permit, and if they wish to give birth to their child here in norway..does the norwegian govt allow this? I am not intrested in gettin a norwegian citizenship or something but just in case if we can avoid gng to India…that will help us continue our job otherwise we will have to travel back.

________________from L-Jay:

Hi Nichas

People who are in Norway on a work permit are able to give birth in Norway. In fact, work permit holders and immediate family may also be able to receive certain Norwegian child benefits (check out http://www.nav.no), especially if they have been working and paying tax for at least 12 months or 36 months – depending.

UDI says in regards to child citizenship:

A child does not become a Norwegian citizen automatically, even if he/she is born in Norway.

In your case, with you and your spouse being of different nationality than Norwegian (Indian), citizenship of your child will largely depend on the citizenship laws of your country of nationality. You will need to do what Indian citizenship law requires if you want your child to have Indian citizenship. If they need you to return to India then you will need to do so.

In current Norwegian law it says:

a child with a Norwegian mother or father acquires Norwegian citizenship by birth. This applies no matter if the child is born in Norway or abroad, and no matter if the parents were married or not.

The above may also apply in India? – but you definitely need to check out Indian Citizenship Law to make sure you know the law beforehand so you can prepare, make appropriate decisions and take appropriate action when the time comes.

And don’t forget, if your child receives Indian citizenship you will need to take the necessary action for him/her to have an Indian passport.

Very informative page! Thank you for posting it!
I have some questions, I don’t know where to turn and any guidance you have would be greatly appreciated!

I am a Canadian citizen, but also hold and EU passport, I will be starting turnus in August, so will have a work permit once the job is secured with Turnus. I am married and have a daughter who will be joining me.
What do you think the immigration paperwork will be for my husband (who will not be working at the start) and my one year old daughter? What are the requirements for me to be able to bring them with me?
Our permanent home is Canada, but could/should we apply using our EU passports?
Can we apply for the paperwork before we move and have them move with me while we wait for the process to finish?
Once we are in Norway and obtain ID numbers what social services are we allowed to receive? For example, would my child be able to get child benefits? What other benefits are available to help supplement my income?
Thank you for all your guidance!!

____________________from L-Jay:

Hi Canadian
As soon as you get the job you should apply for your family permits ASAP. Usually when a child is involved they try to keep the process at three months but, of course, sometimes this doesn’t happen. If your husband is not a Canadian citizen it will take longer – also, if you were born in another country and have lived in other countries the process will take longer because the authorities need to check to see if you have had a criminal record in any other country you have lived.

Who can bring their family to Norway?
If you live in Norway, you may have the right to bring your closest family members here. NB: Citizens of EEA countries are subject to separate rules.

Your closest family members can apply for a family immigration permit if you live in Norway and are:

A foreign citizen who has a permit which after three years gives the right to live permanently in Norway (for example, people with asylum status or with a residence permit on humanitarian grounds, people with a work permit for skilled workers, etc.)

There is actually no such thing as an ‘EU passport’ – only EU citizens. Each country in Europe still have their own passports. Also, Norway is not a part of the EU. Your “EU passport” won’t have much weighting as you don’t currently live in the EU. In any case, the Norwegian authorities will need to check both your passports – if you hold one back from them it will give you problems as your passports are digitally linked and holding one back will be seen as deceiving.

Myth I: It is a common misperception to believe that there is an “EU Passport” which cover all EU member countries. An “EU Passport” is only a term used to describe a passport from any EU country and does not exists in reality. Any citizen from any EU member country have same rights to travel visa free within EU / Schengen and to work in any EU country of their choice.

Myth II: Being and “EU citizen” and “EU resident” is the same. This is not the case. An EU citizen is an individual who has a passport from one of the EU countries. An EU resident can be an individual who has obtained the right to work and live in one of the EU countries, but who still holds the citizenship of his or her home country.

To have your family with you UDI says (the italics are, I believe, your status):

You need to submit your application to the Norwegian foreign service station that has the responsibility for citizens from your country. If you reside in another country than where you are a citizen, you must in general have had a residence permit in this country for the past 6 months before you submit the application. The person living in Norway may, as a general rule, not apply for family reunification on behalf of the person(s) living abroad.

In general, you may not enter Norway before a permit has been granted. Therefore you can not apply from Norway. If you are not required to have a visa, you may, however, enter the country and apply from Norway in certain cases. These include when:

* Your spouse is a Norwegian national who resides or who intends to take up residence in Norway.
* Your spouse has a settlement permit or a permit which can constitute grounds for a settlement permit

If you may apply from Norway, you need to submit your application to the police in the district where you live. In the larger cities there is often a separate office where you need to apply. Read more at the web-pages of the police.

Child immigrantion can be a little more tricky – from the UDI website:

In order to be covered by the arrangements of family immigration with the parents, a child needs to be under the age of 18, and without a spouse/co-habitant. In cases with doubt concerning the age, an age test may be carried out. This cannot be done, however, without consent.

There are conditions for the parents as well. Children are entitled to family immigration when:

* Both parents have been, or will be, granted residence in Norway.
* One of the parents lives in Norway, unless being granted residence here is not in the child’s best interests. A parent who lives in Norway must have parental responsibility or share parental responsibility. If parental responsibility is shared, the consent of the other parent is required.
Children applying for family immigration to Norway
If you have a child living in another country, he or she may have the right to move to Norway. In order to be granted a residence permit in Norway, the child needs to apply for family immigration.

Conditions for a child to be entitled to family immigration with his or her parents:

In order to be covered by the arrangements of family immigration with the parents, a child needs to be under the age of 18, and without a spouse/co-habitant. In cases with doubt concerning the age, an age test may be carried out. This cannot be done, however, without consent.

There are conditions for the parents as well. Children are entitled to family immigration when:

* Both parents have been, or will be, granted residence in Norway.
* One of the parents lives in Norway, unless being granted residence here is not in the child’s best interests. A parent who lives in Norway must have parental responsibility or share parental responsibility. If parental responsibility is shared, the consent of the other parent is required.

If the requirements for children and parents (see above) have been met, the child may be granted a permit based on family immigration. The following conditions apply:

* The child needs to apply.
* In order to apply, the child needs to complete a particular application form, and needs to attach certain documentation. See a list at the page: How do I apply for family immigration?
* There are general requirements of subsistence.
* The child may not settle in Norway before an application for family immigration as been approved.

Also – there are financial and housing requirements for you to bring your family with you. If you do not earn enough in your job you will not be able to have your family with you. you need to earn at least NOK 215,000 per year to support one person, plus have adequate housing.

Part of your terms and agreements for coming to Norway is NOT to be a burden on the social system. If you are, you will be exported. Only asylum seekers may receive benefits when coming into the country. Your child may, however, be granted a very small benefit of support.

I applied for my settlement permit on Nov. 27 and my final residence permit expired on Dec. 5. How could this affect my application?

____________________from L-Jay:

Hi K
In general, it will just delay the application process. On the UDI website it does say to…

apply for a settlement permit, you must complete an application form (which) must be submitted to the police in the district where you live, and at least one month before your residence or work permit expires. If the application has been submitted in time, you are entitled to remain in Norway under the same conditions as before, until your application has been processed.

But this is a general guide – (in Tromsø they want us to submit two to three months in advance as there are a lot of applications and not as many consultants.) But also they do say ‘in time’ – and you did get your application in before your permit expires. If you are worried, you could call them up and ask if they have received it. (That’s of course, if you sent it in. If you handed it in personally, then you know they have it..lol.)

The next thing to do is wait for the confirmation letter that the authorities have received your application – this should be sent out straight away once they have logged your Settlement application. If you don’t receive it after a couple of weeks, I would call up the immigration authorities and find out what’s happening – (sometimes things get lost in the mail butit is your responsibility to make sure you do all you can to help the authorities and the application process.) The UDI website says:

When you apply for a settlement permit, you will receive automatic notification in the mail that the immigration authorities have received your application. This letter will contain information about how long processing may take.

If you have already received this notification, then I’d say things are ‘on track’. The UDI also says…

In order to avoid unnecessary case processing delays, it is important to take care when completing the application form and to include all the requested documentation.

The authorities know that sometimes things don’t go as planned which can cause delays – that’s why they grant you stay in Norway until you receive an official decision about your application – even if your other permit date has expired. I wouldn’t advise leaving Norway until your permit has been granted and you have that special stamp in your passport. The authorities will need you close by in case they need to call you in for interview or for more information. Also, if you leave Norway during your waiting time it could cause complications in trying to get back into Norway. (Airport authorities are known to hold people at the border.)

But of course, if you have an emergency (e.g death of an immediate family member etc) and you have to leave Norway during your application processing time, then you apply to the immigration authorities and let them know the circumstances. You will also need to apply for your passport to be given back if the immigration authorities have it.

Another question. I received word from UDI that I am not entitled to work here because I didn’t apply one month beforehand. Funny thing is, I remember at the time I applied it has said 2 weeks. It doesn’t seem fair at all!

____________________from L-Jay:In the years I have applied for residency I have never seen ‘two weeks’ as an application deadline for permits.

Unfortunately, in situations like this it is actually up to the submitter to find out all the correct information and follow procedures. As I have lived in several countries I’ve developed a habit of writing down dates, names and conversations I have with people when dealing with important circumstances such as immigration, taxes, banking etc. Sometimes I even ask for a reference number for extra proof that a conversation has taken place. Another thing I do is to make a PDF, with access, date of web pages that I have gathered ‘official’ information from. Basically, I have learnt to cover myself from any unforeseen difficulties that may lay ahead when dealing with official stuff.

If you feel the decision by UDI is wrong, there is an appeal process. Here is a Case Procedure PDF for Settlement Permits on the UDI website. (You will need to download it.) It says appeals must be submitted in three weeks from the time the authorities have sent the decision letter. UDI will have another look at your case. If they maintain the ‘rejected’ decision then your case will be sent to the Immigration Appeals Board which will make an evaluation. Their decision is final.

Your article is really intersting and very informative. Me and my husband are currently staying in norway and request you to help us with following two queries.

1. My husband has been granted a wp for norway in 2005 which got renewed in 2006,2007 and 2008. When it was issued for the first time (2005),it was clearly mentioned that it cannot be considered as ground for settlement permit. Also when it was renewed in 2006 and 2007 the same clause was mentioned. But when it got renewed in 2008, it is now mentioned that it forms a ground for settlement permit. Does this mean he can apply for settlement permit right away? If not then to apply for settlement permit does he need to have the renewed permit for 2 more years (i.e. in 2009 and 2010), before he can apply for settlement permit?

2. I applied for family reunification in 2007 based on my husband’s wp and got wp. I renewed it in 2008. In my case too, permit on 2007 has the non-ground settlement clause is there while the one in 2008 mentions that it can form ground for settlement permit. I have a permanent job offer from a norwegian company here and was wondering if i need to apply for a new wp for specialist worker as i fulfill the criteria for this type of wp. Also wanted to know if i don’t apply for a separate wp permit and my husband wp doesn’t get renewed this year (2009), then can i still be in norway?

Thanks for your help.

-Sakshi

____________________from L-Jay:

Hei Sakshi

First, just to clarify: there are two kinds of work permits – 1. a work permit which allows a worker to stay in Norway for up to three months without permanent residence, and 2, a Work and Residency Permit which allows a worker to work and reside in Norway for longer than three months. Below is a focus on the Work and Residency Permit, which is often called just ‘Work Permit’.

In order for a skilled worker to get a settlement permit – meaning they can stay in the country without loosing their permit due to divorce or unemployment – they need to have been on a ‘Work and Residency Permit’ for three consecutive years. Since your spouse has had a Work Permit for this amount of time they are now allowed to apply for Settlement – (if they want to, of course). Before this time Settlement was not open to them.

I guess the reason that your Family Reunification has opened up for Settlement too is that it is attached to your spouses Work Permit. Most likely your spouses Work Permit wouldn’t be renewed is because 1. they didn’t apply for it to be renewed or 2. they are unemployed. In the immigration Work Permit rules it says it is ok for your spouse to have changed employment and will not effect his right to apply for Settlement. On the UDI Requirements for Settlement Permit page it says:

A change of employer will not be deemed to interrupt this period provided that you have worked in Norway continuously for three years.

However, for the Settlement to be granted the same conditions must exist as was at the start of your permits. This means that your spouse can apply if they still have their Work Permit and you can apply if you have your Family Reunification. If you change your permit status to ‘Skilled Worker’ you are likely to forfeit your Settlement Permit until another three consecutive years on your work permit has been completed.

I see that there is no reason why you should need to transfer over from a Family Reunification (Residency Permit) to a Work Permit for your offer of employment. A Residency Permit gives you all the rights and privileges of work and employment in Norway as like a Work and Residency Permit.

Even though your spouses Work Permit and your Family Reunification has opened up for Settlement Permits there are still other requirements to be met before a Settlement Permit can be granted. In general:

1. You have had three years of consecutive residence in Norway
2. Your status is the same as when your first permit was granted eg, married, skilled worker etc.
3. Your conduct has been acceptable while living in Norway eg. no criminal offences etc
4. You have participated in at least 300 hours of Norwegian language and culture classes.

In you submit an application without these requirements your application will likely not be assessed. (There are different rules for EEA/EU/EFTA citizens – please see UDI.no for further details.)

The nyinorge.no website is especially for Work Permit holders but also clarifies the requirement for Norwegian Language Requirement for Settlement Permits.

Learning Norwegian
It is important that you are able to speak Norwegian in order to live in Norway. The Norwegian authorities demand that those who intend to reside in Norway for a long time should learn Norwegian. You have to complete 300 hours of Norwegian language classes in order to get permanent residence and eventually, citizenship in Norway.

Obligation to participate
You are obligated to participate in 300 hours of Norwegian language and society classes if:

* You are between the ages of 16 and 55 years, and
* have a work permit that may qualifies you for permanent residence or
* you are married to/living with a person that has a work permit that may qualify the holder for permanent residence.

Costs
(If you are on a Work Permit) You do not have the right to free classes. You or your employer should pay for those classes.

There is a lot to know about work and residency in Norway and it is vital for immigrants to know and understand the CORRECT information and rules. I would suggest that if you are in doubt or have concerns that you contact your immigration office for more information. You can also Contact UDI via their telephone or email. Another great page on the UDI website is their UDI Site Directory page. It has all the topics listed in groups on one page rather than you having to flick through page after page to find what you are looking for.

Many thanks for your detailed response. It really helped us to understand the correct situation with regards to our respective work permits.

I still have couple of more queries:
1. When my husband received his first work permit(Residence permint) in 2005,it was mentioned that duration of the permit cannot exceed 4 years. The same was mentioned on the renewed permit in 2006. But this was not mentioned on the renewed permits issued on 2007 and 2008. Hence we are in doubt if he has to apply for altogether a new permit or what. (Eventhough it is being clearly mentioned on the latest renewed permit that it can be renewed and can be considered as basis for settlement permit)

2. Also the workpermit issued for my husband was applied for a special skill/position. If he finds a new employer who gives him work in same area but the position is different. Can he continue to work on the same permit or a new one needs to be applied. I mean just want to know if he will loose his chance for settlement permit.

3. If for some reason he is not able to find employment to renew his permit and if i want to continue staying in the country,can i then apply for a new wp based on the offer that i have?

Thanks a lot! This article is really helpful and contains important Tips and information. I hope that with your experience, you can help me with my case: I’m a Venezuelan citizen and I got to Norway on January 24th and I have applied for a family reunification permit on January 26th 2009, since my husband has a permit as a skilled worker/specialist of three years. I’m concerned about a trip that I need to make to London, UK on May 9th; the main purpose of this trip is to take the TOEFL that is one of the requirements for the application of a Master in Business that I have applied in Norway. The date to take the test is the only one within the deadline of the application and there are no available dates here in Norway.
I have asked the UDI about this and they told me that after April 24th (within 90 days of entrance) I couldn’t leave the country and return again, while my permit where still on process. My questions are: What types of Applications are the processed by the Local police,?, If I leave the country before April 24th and get back there is a possibility that I could travel again within the next 90 days? Is there any provision or resource that I can applied in this case?.I really appreciate your willingness and kindness to help us through this process.

In advance, thank you very much for your collaboration.

Best Regards

____________________from L-Jay:

Hi D_nani
Even though you have applied for Family Reunification, right now you are still in Norway on the Schengen 90 day visa/visit (meaning you can only stay in the Schengen area 90 days out of 180). When this 90 day visa/visit expires, because you have applied for a residency permit, the Norwegian immigration authorities will grant you stay in Norway until your Family Reunification permit is granted. However, if you travel to another Schengen country on an expired visa/visit you could be detained and sent back to your resident country with a fine or even a mark on your passport saying you cannot enter the Schengen area for five years or so. As the Norwegian authorities are aware that their permit process will be longer than your Schengen visa/visit time, out of courtesy, they allow you to stay in Norway until your permit is granted. This is ‘good will’ on the part of the authorities – otherwise they would make you apply for your permit in your country of residence and make you wait there until the permit is granted (they do this in a lot of cases especially for children and visa required nationalities). If you change your circumstance from the time of your original application it could result in your permit application being cancelled i.e. are visiting another country during your application process – with an expired Schengen visa/visit.

My suggestion is to stay in Norway until your permit has been approved. This will safeguard you against any unforseen circumstances with immigration authorities here in Norway and abroad. You want to show Norway that you are serious about residency here and that you are willing to commit to it. If you are not willing to do what you can to make sure your applicattion is approved this could make things difficult for you in the future. There has been a recent commenter who has had difficulties and has jepodised their residency because they put their application in only two weeks before their deadline – the immigration authorities require you to apply at least a month beforehand. The authorities are very strict and you need to follow THEIR rules to make sure you get what you want – residency.

For your first question…
Even though they say the ‘local police’ handle immigration cases, it is actually the police department for immigration which is a ‘branch’ of he Oslo UDI that handles your case. The ‘police’ themselves don’t handle cases and the people who do the processes at your UDI branch don’t have police authority. If your case is complicated then they will send your application to specialists within their department (which would usually be in Oslo).

Thanks for your answer… Of course I will take your advice and stay in the country sometimes you have to make some sacrifices in order to achieve your main goal and I sure don’t want to jeopardize mi permit application.

Hi, Thanks a lot! for sharing helpful information, I need to ask you a simple question may you can help me in this regard,

I have 17 years of study ( Masters in computer sciences), 4+ years for experience in Computer Engeneering field. i want to apply for Work Permit, i am confused between Work Permit and residence Permits, please help me for which Permit should i apply … i want to come to norway and want to search a JOB and Live there, i have enogh fund to support me and my family (wife and a child) for one year in norway.

waiting for reply

Thank you and Best Regards,

Asim Qazi.

____________________from L-Jay:

Hi Asim

I think the best permit for you to apply for is a Work Permit (more correctly called ‘Work and Residency Permit) – it, of course, includes residency. Just a ‘Residency Permit’ is for those applying for Family Reunification etc.

It seems like the best Work Permit for you would be Skilled Worker/Specialist, however, you need a solid job offer before you can apply for a Permit. UDI says:

Skilled workers/specialists are persons who have specialist training in a particular field or have special qualifications needed in Norway.

The requirements for you to gain a Work Permit is that you must have a ‘concrete and current’ offer of full-time ‘work for a single employer’.

To apply you need an offer of employment form or your employers contact – UDI WILL contact the employer about you. Documentation of training, skills and education etc is also needed. (It is a good idea to also apply for Family Reunification (Residency Permit) at the same time too so your family can join you quickly.

However there are also other strict requirements also. From UDI:

The application must be submitted from your country of origin or another country where you have been legally resident for at least six months. You may not enter the country and start working before your permit has been granted. The application must be submitted to your nearest Norwegian foreign service mission (embassy, consulate general). You will also be informed of the decision regarding your application via the Norwegian foreign service mission.

However, some people may apply for a work permit from Norway. This applies to those who qualify as a skilled worker/specialist, and either:

* Have a residence or work permit lasting three months or more
* Have been granted a visa/job seeker visa for up to three months
* Are entitled to live in Norway for three months without a permit (i.e. without a visa)

Unfortunatley, if you require a Visa to enter the Schengen area you will not be able to apply for a Work Permit from within Norway. You can find out if you need a Visa from the UDI Who Needs a Visa webpage.

It is really hard for foreigners to get a job in Norway unless it is in a field in demand (Health, Oil Industry etc). Most employers will not take you on unless you know how to speak fluent Norwegian or Swedish. You can search for jobs on the National Job Service website nav.no (in Norwegian) but it has been reported that up to 50% of jobs in Norway are not advertised. It might be best to target companies individually.

If you want to enter Norway to look for a job then you will need a special Job Seeker Visa/Permit which only lasts three months. You will not be able to stay longer than that because of the Schengen agreement rules – you are allowed to stay in the Schenegen area 90 days out of 180. However, if you find a job you will not be able to start work until you have a Work Permit. If you needed a Visa to enter Norway you will need to return to your resident country to apply for your Work Permit and Family Reunification from your nearest Foreign Office. If you didn’t need a Visa to enter Norway then you can apply while in Norway but will likely have to wait up to three months before the Permit is granted. This is a big problem for employers because they don’t like waiting. The government is trying to speed this process up for employers but at the moment anything goes.

Computer Science is such a broad field. There are so many Norwegians that do Computer Science and as such employers are in the habit of poaching people from other organisations rather than advertising jobs to the public. You need to be ‘in the loop’ – so you more than likely won’t be able to get the job you are qualified for until you get wise in the industry, know Norwegian and get a good network of associates and clients. Also, at this time of financial crisis, a lot of employers are not hiring.

Tip:
If you are not used to living in Nordic/Arctic countries with ice, snow and darkness for six months then I suggest coming here first on a holiday during the peak dark season. People who come from hotter climates find the cold and darkness very hard and many suffer from depression. In order to have a social life and make friends it is important to know Norwegian. Norwegians are very proud of their language and believe that if you want to live and work in Norway you must learn Norwegian. In fact, some Permits require you to take at least 300 hours of Norwegian language class and employers might add that in as a term of your employment agreements.

hello sir i am indian i live in uk my visa working holiday maker my visa end only two month i go visit norway. yes no

____________________from L-Jay:

Hi Jassal

As the UK is not part of the Schengen agreement a UK Visa will not cover you for the Schengen area. If you are an Indian resident, meaning your normal home is India, then you need a Visa to enter the Schengen Area – even if you are on a working holiday in the UK. If you are a permanent resident of the UK then you can enter the Schengen area without a Visa.

If you want to travel to Norway you will need to contact the Norwegian Embassy in London or go there to get a Schengen Visa before you travel – otherwise you will likely be stopped at the border.

To read more about which countries are exempt from the Schengen Visa you can go to the UDI Who Needs a Visa webpage.

hi L-Jay,
First of all thank you very much for such an detailed and informative answer, i will again research and come back to you if i got any further confusions, but from UDI and you text its seems that its impossible to find some work in norway 🙂

Asim.

____________________from L-Jay:

Hi Asim

I recently found a website that is actually set up by Norwegian companies advertise for skilled workers from abroad. You might want to check them out as they have some good tips and career opportunities.

OMG!!!! I am so happy I found this site, it has really helped me understand the laws so much better. My boyfriend is living in Norway and wants to move and stay with him. And we are planning to get married and I started to freak out. But he is so supportive and doing what he can do on his end. I get headaches from just thinking of this…. You have so been a ray of Happy sunshine… But I am sure I will be back asking questions…. Thank you.

____________________from L-Jay:

Være så god!

I find that when you are married to a Norwegian citizen, or intending to marry, the process of obtaining a Residency Visa is much easier, especially if you are from a country that doesn’t require a Visiting Visa to enter the Schengen area. And then if you have children with the Norwegian citizen it is easier again. However, there can be some hiccups – but that is a case by case issue. (I also find that the American government can sometimes make things difficult as they are not too keen on ‘releasing’ their citizens to live in another country.’

First thank you so much for this information.
I am a Zambian who is married to a Norwigean. We lived together in the US for over 2 and half years and he has had to go back to Norway coz his work contract ended. We applied for family immigration for me and my daughter (who is a US Citizen) in January 09. We submited all the paper work. UDI has called my husband at list twice asking for more information, which we have send them. and we still have not heard anything back from UDI. My country requires a visa to enter Norway and we have asked the UDI if we can go to Norway and wait for the permit over their. No response. My question is how long does it really take to get approved? coz I am really getting frastreted.

Thanks,
Lubi

____________________From L-Jay:

Hi Lubi

Even though you are applying through a Norwegian Consulate, they have to work with all the other countries that you have lived in – and this is what takes the most time. Through American friends, I know that America takes a long time to do things because they don’t like to ‘give people away’ to other countries and so the Norwegian Consulate has to wait for them (and their reluctance) to get information about you. Also, the Norwegian Consulate has to get information about you from Zambia, and any other country you have lived in. So it is not usually the UDI that makes you wait but the other countries. Your application waiting time will largely depend on how co-operative the U.S. and Zambian authorities are. UDI needs to track your history and some countries (especially 3rd world) are not good at keeping records. This makes it take longer also as UDI would need to gather more info from you (like they have) in order to get a more accurate account of your history.

Also, because a child is involved UDI needs to do extra checks to make sure the child is yours and your husbands. (If the child is from another marriage then you need to get permission from the child’s father before you are allowed to immigrate to Norway.)

However, you have only waited six months – which is generally the basic waiting time. I’m from Australia, a country that doesn’t require a visa and have applied for Family Reunification twice – because I left Norway for a year. For both times children were not involved. The first time was straight from Australia and I had to wait eight months. The second time I was in the UK and had to wait nine months. It seems that you should expect to wait at least a year – anything over that is normal (I had a American friend who had to wait two and a half years!) and anything less than that is a blessing.

Tips on dealing with UDI or a Norwegian Consulate:
When dealing with UDI, no matter how frustrated you are, you need to do everything you can to make THEIR life easy (this will in turn make your life easier.) Getting all hot and fired up (not that you have) does not go down well with a Norwegian. Rather than calling up to ask what’s going on, call up to see if they have all the information they need from you and if there is anything more you can do for them. You need to be aware that every encounter you have with them, where they need to pull up your file, is recorded.

During this time, learn the process, because it won’t end when you get your Residency Permit. You will have to go through the process every year, for at least three years. Sometimes they will even come to your home to check out your marriage situation etc to see if it is still the same and you will likely go through a heavy interview. But every country does this (I know Australia does). After three years of living in Norway permanently you can then apply for your Settlement Permit which means you can live in Norway unconditionally – no more applications, no more interviews etc. So there is light at the end of the tunnel 😉

Can a 37 year old filipina is still qualified to apply as an Aupair in Norway?
Assuming she already has a prospective employer in Norway?

____________________from L-Jay:

Hi Faye

Unfortunately, no. You need to be between the ages of 18 and 30 to be allowed to work as an Au Pair in Norway. Directly from the UDI website:

Who can obtain a work permit as an au pair?

In order to obtain a work permit as an au pair:

* You must be aged between 18 and 30.
* It must to be likely that you will return to your home country after the permit has expired, and the conditions for a return must be in place.http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=4661#who – Accessed 07/07/2009

Hi L-Jay:
Thanks a lot for the information. Its feels nice to talk to someone who has gone through this. I let my husband deal with UDI and he has been telling me that you have to be real nice and plesent when you call them up coz these are governament workes and you dont want to mess with them. I will keep my fingers crossed and hope for good news soon. Thanks a lot for the info.

You are doing a great thing here! Keep it up, you are changing people’s lives…. thank you!

I am a Kenyan living in London (Kenyan passport holder) for the past 5.5 yrs. My wife is Norwegian and we’ve been married for 1.5 years now. We got married in Norway but reside in London. In about 2 years we hope to move and settle in Norway.
What are some of the things (if any) that I should start working on from now to ease the process of applying for the Family Reunification permit? Also, does my wife have to be residing in Norway to qualify for the Reunification permit? The name implies that we would be apart at the time of application.
Thank you once again.

____________________from L-Jay:

Hi Sammy
Your application for Family Reunification should be pretty straight forward. This is because you are married to a Norwegian citizen (and when applying you will have been married for at least 3 years). You do not have to separate, meaning your wife return to Norway, in order for you to apply. All you need to do is apply at the Norwegian Embassy in London in good time.

Moose and I were in the same boat as you a couple of years back. We were living in London too. As we wanted to return to Norway to have a family, I applied for Family Reunification at the Norwegian Embassy in London. It was a breeze to apply. We wanted to apply while in London just to make things quicker, however, because I am a citizen of a non-visa required country (Australia) to enter the Shengen area, I had the option of entering Norway first and then apply for Family Reunification if I wanted to. In fact, before my application was approved we moved back to Norway and just transferred my case to the police district I was living in. We did this because I only had four months to go before the baby was due and the airlines wouldn’t let me fly after six months. (And we wanted our children to be Norwegian…lol.)

In saying that, the only issue that could slow down the process for you getting Family Reunification is your citizenship. Kenyans have to have a visa to enter the Schengen area (Who Needs a Visa) so you cannot enter Norway and apply for Family Reunification from within the country. The UDI says about this:

In general, you may not enter Norway before a permit has been granted. Therefore you can not apply from Norway. If you are not required to have a visa, you may, however, enter the country and apply from Norway in certain cases. These include when:

The time you will have to wait also depends on how cooperative the Kenyan authorities will be in releasing information about you. Norway UDI can only work as fast as other countries will allow. Your citizenship will certainly complicate things but if you give up all the right and complete information to UDI about yourself they will certainly make things easier for you.

With this in mind I would suggest applying for your Permit at least a year to 18 months before you intend to move to Norway. My case took 10 months even though it was straight forward (and they actually already had my details from a previous Family Reunification Permit in Norway!) During your application process don’t leave the UK for any reason otherwise it can complicate things and you might have to start over again. Also, for your first application it is really important to have all your finances together. Your spouse will need to prove that they can financially support you and house you.

Also, before you come, I would suggest you learn Norwegian. This is so you can get a good job. Most employers require you to learn Norwegian and over 95% of the work force only hires Norwegian speakers. Being married to a Norwegian citizen you are entitled to 3000 hours of Norwegian classes (you only need 300 hours to get a Settlement permit) but these classes still don’t get your proficient enough at Norwegian to get the good jobs. (I’ve seen a lot of immigrants, well educated people, including men, having to take up jobs in childcare centres even after their Norwegian classes).

hi
i thank you for all this informations ..i am wondring if i can ask you about my case please
I am a moroccan women married to a norwegian men …i submitted my applications (family reunification) in the embassy after my marriage in july 2008…after one year the udi contact my husband to say that they refuse my applications… but they didn’t say why..they send him some other paper to field (my husband is living in norway and i still living in morocco) to start another application and wait for another answer…
can you explain to me what happens and what i have to do if they refuse it again ???

____________________from L-Jay:

UDI can reject an application for many reasons: not enough information provided, incorrect information, the marriage circumstance is questionable, spouse doesn’t meet the substance requirement etc. To find out why, call up the Foreign Service Mission you applied to and ask what was wrong with your application. If you disagree with UDI’s decision you have the opportunity to apeal but you must do this within three weeks. UDI says:

Can I appeal against a decision?

If your application is rejected, you can appeal. The deadline for appeals is normally 3 weeks from the date on which you receive the decision. Basically it is only you, as the applicant, who is entitled to appeal under the Immigration Act.

Rejected. UDI sends the decision to the Foreign Service Mission which informs the applicant in writing. Appeals must be submitted within 3 weeks.

Appeal. UDI makes a re-evaluation of the case. UDI may reverse its decision. If the rejection is maintained the case is forwarded to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) which makes a re-evaluation of the application. UNE’s decision is final.

If you still do not think the rejection is fair the only other thing you can do is lawyer up and take the matter to court. However, this can be very expensive on your part as International Lawyers charge an outrageous price.

thank you for your answer L-JAY
i am not sure if the udi who is rejected my application when i asked by internet the ots answered :
Your case is not finalized yet.
We’d suggest you contact the Helgeland police department at 75 11 27 00 to ascertain that they’ve received the documents we sent to them on May 19th 2009.
i called my husband and he called the police.. after ..i knew that my application is finished and they sent other paper to my husband asking about all my family names and adress …and so.. my husband was at the police and they said to him that every thing is ok..means another process is starting and may be we will have answer in 3 mounths…
i realy don’t understand if they rejected it or it still under process by police or by udi but my husband said that my application is finished.

____________________from L-Jay:

Well, it sounds like everything is going to plan. Sometimes it takes a while for the police to send out decision letters. You need to call them regularly just in case they have sent the letter but you haven’t received it. I would also start keeping record of your contacts and outcomes of conversations with UDI/the police (even take names of who you spoke to, dates, times etc) – just in case. It never hurts to be careful and if anything does go wrong you have the proof that at least you did everything you could to help them.

But it is a good sign that they asked for more information as it means that they have your application and are working on it. Because of your country of residence I presume the UDI has to be extra careful on immigration. It is no reflection on you (it’s just that UDI has been in the bad books lately to the public for granting residence to WW2 criminals and assumed terrorists – so they are being extra careful now.) I’ve had my third residency application in for a while now and even though it is straight forward the police are still taking a long time with it. Generally in January-February and July-August the immigration service gets overloaded.

I know it’s hard being away from your husband for such a long time. It stresses the relationship. But this time will pass. However, while you wait it would be good to learn about Norway as much as possible – especially the language. This will help you feel you are doing something constructive while you wait. Understanding what it means to be Norwegian will certainly draw you closer to your husband in this time of separation.

thanks L-JAY
I do my best “jeg snakker bare litt norsk nå og jeg kan forstå hvis du snakker langsomt ” i try anyway..lol
i will call the embassy tomorrow to ask about my application if there is no clear answer i will call the police in norway and i will informe you if you allow me to disturb you more
thank you so much

hey,
is that possible to aply for permanent resident permit to live in Norway as master or phD student as self finance? if yes what’s procedure?
cheers

____________________
from L-Jay:

I’m sorry, but no. If you enter on a student permit you have to leave on a student permit. Note the bolded points from UDI:

Permit holder’s entitlement

* The residence permit is granted for the duration of the course of study.
* The first time residence permit allows the student to work part time up to 20 hours a week and full time in holidays.
Read more about the rules for part-time work for students.
* The permit does not constitute grounds for a settlement permit.
* Family members may come to Norway under the rules for family immigration. The family’s application will be processed in the same unit as the application for the principal person.

All students are required to leave Norway after they have finished their studies.

UDI says:

# In addition, it is a condition that you return to your country of origin on completion of your studies. “Country of origin” means the country of which you are a citizen, or where you have been granted long-term permanent residence. An assessment will be made on the basis of your situation at the time of the decision.

The next paragraph can be a little confusing but what they mean is that you have the possibility of extending you STUDENT residency according to your study needs:

# You may, however, apply for further residence i Norway. It is a condition that you have had legal residence in Norway for the past 9 months.

Renewal of a student residency will cost a fee and has other conditions such as finance, housing, course requirement etc but you would need to apply at your local police station at least on month before your permit expires. UDI says:

The permit may be renewed. An application for renewal must be submitted at least one month before the current permit expires. The application must be submitted to the police in the district where you live. The police may approve the application if it appears clear that the conditions have been met. You must also pay a fee when applying for renewal.

Hi L-Jay!
Thank you for the many useful information:)
I have one question want to ask you.. if you could answer, I would really appreciate it.
My boyfriend is Norway citizen and living there and want to get married… Is it possible to get married in Norway while I am just a visitor visa status without having fiancee permit?(ofcourse ,it will be within 90days) then apply for first time residence permit or family reunification?
Does Fiancee permit required prior to our marriadge?
Please advise. Thank you

____________________from L-Jay:

Hi K,
You are able to get married in Norway but because you require a visa to enter Norway (see the UDI page: Who Needs A Visa) you are generally not allowed to apply for Family Reunification from within Norway. You will have to return back to your home country and apply for the family permit at your nearest foreign mission. UDI says:

How To Apply
In general, you may not enter Norway before a permit has been granted. Therefore you can not apply (for Family Reunification) from Norway. If you are not required to have a visa, you may, however, enter the country and apply from Norway in certain cases. These include when:
Your spouse is a Norwegian national who resides or who intends to take up residence in Norway.
Your spouse has a settlement permit or a permit which can constitute grounds for a settlement permithttp://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=7414

>

However, if you get a Fiancé Permit first before you come to Norway you can then enter Norway and apply for Family Reunification from within Norway. UDI says about the Fiancé Permit:

Permit holder’s entitlement
The purpose of this permit is that, marriage shall be contracted in Norway. You are entitled to travel in and out of Norway and also the right to work within the validity of your permit. You can continue to work so long as you have this temporary permit. If this permit expires and you have not by then, been granted family immigration permit with your spouse you cannot continue to work. After the marriage, a permit for family immigration can be submitted. This is done at the police in Norway where you live. The application must be submitted before your fiancé permit expires. The First-time Residence or Work Permit – GP 7028 form is to be used. You can continue living in Norway during the processing period. If marriage is not contracted during the time you have a fiancé permit, you must leave Norway.http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=8413#who

One thing that people don’t consider when they want to get married within a three month visit is that it takes time to organise marriage with Authorities. If you want to get married in a church you will have to book the priest well in advance – there are usually long waits. The priest will likely want to meet you beforehand and you would be very lucky to have a ceremony booked within your three month stay. Likewise with getting married via a civil servant. There are many people waiting longer than three months to tie the knot. So to make it happen you have to be really organised, have all your papers ready (like No Impediment to Marriage etc) and be prepared to not be able to get married within your three month time frame.

Hi,
Do you know whom the UDI sends information to for the background checks after you apply for family Immigration. I send an email to the embassy where I submited my application, asking them if they might need any more information from me to help with my background check? The response from them was they have not gotten any request from the UDI concerning my background check. I have been waiting for an answer for Family Immigration to join my husband who is Norwegian since January 09. My Husband in Norway has been checking with UDI and all he gets is “It’s being Processed” and no one seems to have an answer.
Thanks,
Lubi

____________________from L-Jay:

Hi Lubi

First thing is that it sounds like UDI has your application. This is very good to know. Secondly, UDI doesn’t send information, they apply for information to the authorities (government/legal authorities/police/criminal authorities/registrars) of the countries you have had residency in.

UDI does every application in order. Your application doesn’t get worked on until it is your turn – it’s like ‘taking a number’. As more and more applications are being submitted the waiting times get longer and longer. This is called a ‘backlog’. UDI can only handle a certain work load at a time. Also, only a certain amount of immigrants from each application type are allowed into Norway each year. The government doesn’t release the set intake numbers. This can all effect application waiting times.

I know it is hard to wait, especially being away from your husband, but you have only waited nine months. The UDI waiting times are only a guide – I think they should change them to say ’12 or 18 months’ because that is much more realistic. Also, you are from a visa required country and that normally takes longer than from non-visa required countries. First applications always take longer to process too. I’m from a non-visa required country and my first application took over eight months. My re-applications have taken time too. Right now I’ve been waiting for nearly five months for my third re-application.

Just keep checking in with UDI every couple of months just in case they have sent out a decision letter but you haven’t received it.

Hi
it’s me again..i want to thank you for your support ..yes your answers suported me when i was frustrated by the process..now ..finaly i had MY VISA.
i will be in norway next november (god willing)..
i have a question i want to study in norway.. i mean beside language i want to study to have a good job..can i do that? when? how?..
L-JAY if you can advise me…thank you so much

____________________from L-Jay:

Hi Sima

Even though ‘education is free’ in Norway there are many hidden things that stop people from schooling. Firstly, if you are a resident in Norway you are required to know a certain amount of Norwegian to do a bachelor degree. Usually you need a pass in what is called ‘The Bergen’s Test’ – a Norwegian language exam that is to the standard of High School Norwegian. You don’t need to know Norwegian to do a Masters or PhD. Yes, there are some courses offered in English but to get a whole degree you must have Norwegian. As a Residency Permit holder without Norwegian language you can apply for ‘Free Mover’ student status which allows you to study for up to one year. You will be classed as an International student and are only allowed to take non-Norwegian speaking subjects.

UIT says:

Proficiency in Norwegian
All students with education from non-Nordic countries who apply for a Norwegian taught Bachelor or Master’s degree programme (degree students) or courses (free movers) are required to document proficiency in both Norwegian and English at advanced level.
Proficiency in Norwegian can be certified through one of the following tests:

University exam in Norwegian, level III

“Test i norsk, høyere nivå”, also called “Bergenstesten”, with 450 points or better

Exam from the one-year course in “Norwegian Language and Society for Foreign Students” from a Norwegian University or College (pass/fail)

Document or exam from the Department of Scandinavian/Nordic Studies (or similar) at the home university stating that the applicant has knowledge in Norwegian at the level of one of the above tests or exams.

Also, an admission requirement is that your English will need to be of a good academic standard. Study in Norway says:

Academic requirements
A compilation of country-specific information called the GSU-list (formerly SIS list) states what level of education applicants from different countries need to meet for entry into Norwegian higher education, including any requirements concerning proficiency in English. For courses where the language of instruction is Norwegian, proficiency in the Norwegian language is also required.

To the right of the GSU page (the link) there is a downloadable PdF for language requirements for both English and Norwegian: http://www.nokut.no/sw14437.asp

In any case it will take you a couple of years of Norwegian to build up your language skills to do a Bachelor Degree or other Norwegian speaking course. The general Norwegian language courses for immigrants at the adult learning centres are not advanced enough to get you into Norwegian degrees. Also, if you do an English speaking degree it will be very hard to get a Norwegian job without the language unless you are in high demand sectors like the oil industry, computing or nursing etc.

But you know what? If you can last the first four years in Norway (many immigrants give up before then and go back home) then the sky is the limit.

hi, i am Amar. I am a software programmer and i am Indian. My fiancée is a norwegian lady from Oslo. She is 21 and studying medicine. She works part time in weekends. She wants and her parents want me to live in Norway. I have gone already lived few times in Schegen visa but they allow only for 90 days from 180 days. i’ve tried to find work but it is hard as i do not know the local language.

My questions:

1. What is the best way to live and work in Norway? (can it be skilled worker, jobseeker, anything else?)

2. I heard there is proposal of fiancée permit may change to 1 year from next year( Jan 2010) and the subsistence proof of money will not be regid like now, have you heard about it?

3. Is there any other trick that will help me to live for a long term with my fiancée in Norway?

____________________from L-Jay:

There are four options for immigrants to live in Norway permanently:

1. Asylum seeker – but for that your life has to be in danger.
2. You marry a Norwegian Citizen or Settlement/Resident Permit holder.
3. You are employed as a skilled worker.
4. You have close Norwegian family who sponsor you.
(Becoming a student doesn’t allow you to stay in Norway permanently.)

If you want to take the employment route you will need to get an employer to ‘sponsor’ you to come to Norway. No one will employ you while you are in Norway unless you have a residency permit. When you find an employer who will hire you for full time work they need to help you apply for skill worker immigration. You will not be able to enter Norway until it is approved. This is the law and employers get fined or put in jail if they employ anyone illegally. UDI says as part of your application:

What must the application include? When you are applying for a working permit, the following documents must accompany the application:
An offer of employment form , or an employment contract containing the same information signed by you and your employer.http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=4657#how

It can be very hard to find an employer to hire you while you are outside of Norway. It might be good for you to get a ‘Work Seekers’ visa:

Visa for skilled workers/specialists seeking work in Norway (if you have an offer of employment in Norway, or wish to seek work here)
If you qualify as a skilled worker/specialist, you may obtain a visa if you have an offer of employment in Norway, or wish to seek work here. The requirements for such a visa depend on whether or not you have an offer of employment. If you don’t have an offer of employment, you may obtain a visa if you have training equivalent to at least the level of further education.http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=7404#specialist

The other likely route for you is to get married to your fiancé – if she is a Permit holder or Citizen you can apply for family reunification. However, as you require a visa to enter Norway, you will not be able to enter Norway before your application is approved. UDI says:

Your closest family members can apply for a family immigration permit if you live in Norway and are:
A Norwegian citizen
A citizen of the Nordic countries
A foreign citizen who has a settlement permit/right to live permanently in Norway
A foreign citizen who has a permit which after three years gives the right to live permanently in Norway (for example, people with asylum status or with a residence permit on humanitarian grounds, people with a work permit for skilled workers, etc.)http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=741

Another option for you is to get a Fiancé Permit – this also enables you to find/get work, but you would have to get married within six months or then leave the country:

Fiancé permit (get married or enter into partnership)

If your intention is to get married or enter into partnership during your stay in Norway, it is possible to apply for a work and residence permit where the intention is to get married or enter into partnership (“fiancé permit”). If granted you will be given a six months work and residence permit and during this period marriage or partnership must be contracted. If marriage is not contracted during the time you have a fiancé permit, you must leave Norway. This type of permit falls under the same regulations as that of family immigration.http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=8413

There is no free ride when it comes to living in and getting the benefits of a country such as Norway. Getting through all the legal procedures can be frustrating but that’s not the hardest part for immigrants. Living in Norway can be quite a challenge for most immigrants. Many leave and return home after four years. If you want to stay you have to learn the language otherwise you won’t progress.

Your tips and advices was really very helpful for everyone who needs some directions for their applications…Takk for det! 🙂

I just want to ask some info about applying a fiance permit for norway.As of now I am working here in canada in a temporary work visa for two years before I will apply for my landed immigrant permit here,(but have a second thought about that since I have a norwegian boyfriend who wish to bring me back to norway).And I am very much aware that it will take time to process such application like this most specially that I came from a country who needs a visa to enter norway,just to cut the story short I have some few questions and needed your advice on it. 🙂

1.) Can I apply for a fiance permit processed here in canada and at the same time, I will apply for a visitors visa to visit him in a short period(but will comeback in canada) and wait for the approval of my application?

2.)which is better to apply a fiance permit and get married in norway or to get married here in canada and later to apply for family reunification?

my apologies for such queries and hope you will be still accomodating the next time 😉

tusen takk for hjelpen 🙂

hilsen,
Lane

____________________
from L-Jay:

Hi Lane

For your first question: I don’t know the rules for Canada but when you apply for residency in Norway from within Norway you are required to stay in the country until you get your decision letter. It’s the same with applying in your home country – you cannot leave. Canada might have the same rule. I’d advise you to check first before leaving Canada while your ‘landed immigrant permit’ is being accessed. Leaving beforehand might cancel your application with Canada. (It would in Norway.) Further:

a. You cannot apply for a Fiancé Permit from Canada if you do not have permanent residency in Canada (you mentioned you only have a ‘temerary work visa’ and this might not qualify you as a ‘resident’ – you will need to check your status with your nearest Norwegian foreign service). UDI says:

How do I apply?
The application must be submitted to the nearest Norwegian foreign service mission (embassy, consulate general) from your country of origin or another country where you have been legally resident for at least six months.http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=8413#apply

b. If you apply for a Fiancé Permit you cannot leave your country of residence until it is approved. Therefore, you cannot go to Norway or any other country, even for a visit.

c. I wouldn’t advise you to leave Canada until your ‘landed permit’ has been approved, even for a visit to Noprway – it might jeopardise your application – but check with the Canadian authorities.

d. Applying for two permits from two different countries might cause complications for you. Why would Canada grant you a residency if you plan to move to Norway? (and vice versa)

For your second question: If you apply for a Norwegian Fiancé Permit (and it is approved) you have to get married in Norway within six months. UDI says:

If you get married outside of Norway and then apply for Family Reunification without a residency permit from Canada you will have to return to your home county (where you are a citizen) and apply from there – you will not be able to leave your country until a decision has been made. UDI says:

You need to submit your application to the Norwegian foreign service station that has the responsibility for citizens from your country. If you reside in another country than where you are a citizen, you must in general have had a residence permit in this country for the past 6 months before you submit the application.http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=7414

In any case, you are likely to wait at least 12 to 18 months before you can enter Norway on a Fiancé Permit or Family Reunification Permit. There are no ‘fast tracking’ in these cases. Everyone has to wait their turn. This waiting period will have to be spent outside of Norway – and only in your country of residence.

All these complications are because you come from a visa-required country. It does seem unfair, I know, but this is the way most Western countries work. It is to stop people bouncing from country to country. Each country thinks themselves ‘a privilege’ to live in and Norway is no different. ‘The waiting’ is a way to prove that you really want Norway more than any other country. Norway is a jealous country and wants your complete devotion just like a passionate lover ;).

I appreciate for the response you gave to my post.:), My situation is kinda confusing i guess ;(,
But thanks for the help,I might call the norwegian embassy here in norway to clarify if I will be able to apply for a fiance visa in my situation,since obtaining my residency permit here in canada will take 3years in a row from now …that would be a long wait then 🙁
I might end up visiting norway every 6mos…whew!

Hi Good day, i am caren from the Philippines and i have a 2 year old son from a norwegian father, we are not married. I gave birthd here in the Philippines and my son carries my name and we live here as well. Although the father of my son reconized my son and infact sent me affidavit of acknowledgement, notarized by the notary public lawyer in Norway and Authenticated by the Philippine embassy in Oslo.
May i just know if my son gets any benifits from the Norwegian government even if we live here in the Philippines and even if my son is carrying my name?
My son was diagnosed with bilateral profound to severe hearing loss and would consider to have a cochlear implant, can i get help from the government?

I hope you can help me with this and give me more infos on what to do.
Thank you so much!
sincerely,
caren

____________________from L-Jay:

Your son cannot receive any benefits from the Norwegian government unless he lives in Norway. However, the child’s father should be paying child support if he is working, especially if he has ‘recognised’ the child as his with the Norwegian government. Because the child was born and lives in the Philippines he is under Philippine law. Whether the child is eligible for Norwegian citizenship is up to Philippine law.

just an update!…I have contacted the nrwegian embassy here in canada and ask some info regarding fiance permit wether they may consider an applicant without any residene permit here and the answer is positive,they say as long as I have lived here over the past 6 mos. I can apply for it..:)
good news indeed! 🙂

hilsen,
lane

____________________from L-Jay:

That’s great! It sounds like the Canadian Permit that you’re on is similar to the Residency Permit here. Which means you are considered a ‘resident’ even though your permit says ‘temporary work visa’. UDI says:

How do I apply?
The application must be submitted to the nearest Norwegian foreign service mission (embassy, consulate general) from your country of origin or another country where you have been legally resident for at least six months.http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=8413

i am currently working in Norway for statoil and have 3 year work permit and statoil will sponsor the permanent status thereafter.

i am planning to get married soon and my future wife is from india. what kind of permit will she need to get here and how much time will it take for her to get the permit. when do you think we should start the application process

thanks
sid

____________________
from L-Jay:

Hi Sid

People who have a Specialist Workers Permit that enables them to have permanent residency after three years can bring their family to Norway. UDI says:

People who have, or can obtain, the right to permanent residence in NorwayYour closest family members can apply for a family immigration permit if you live in Norway and are:
A Norwegian citizen
A citizen of the Nordic countries
A foreign citizen who has a settlement permit/right to live permanently in Norway
A foreign citizen who has a permit which after three years gives the right to live permanently in Norway (for example, people with asylum status or with a residence permit on humanitarian grounds, people with a work permit for skilled workers, etc.)http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=7412

You can either get married outside of Norway and then apply for Family Reunification in which you can’t start applying until you are married unless you have proof of ‘cohabitation’ – or you can get married in Norway via a Fiancé Permit, in which you can start applying now (if you plan to get married within six months of her arrival). UDI says about the Fiancé Permit:

Who can apply?You can apply for a fiancé permit if the person you will enter into marriage with is…
…a foreign citizen who has a settlement permit/right to live permanently in Norway or a foreign citizen who has a permit which after three years gives the right to live permanently in Norway.http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=8413#who

Hello L-Jay!
Your site is great:) Thanks for so much information.
I have one question for you.. my fiance is Norwegian citizen and we are planning to get married sooner than we planned for family reason,however I already had applied for Fiance visa an couple of months ago in my country and waiting for the answer…is it going to be a problem if I go to Norway earlier and get married and apply for residence visa?
just Fiance vise will be cancelled?
Please give me an advise.
Thank you.

____________________from L-Jay:

In general your Fiancé Visa will just be cancelled. But you also need to consider your visa status.

From a Visa Required Country?
If you are from a visa required country then you can’t come to Norway and apply for Family Reunification from within Norway. But getting a Fiancé Visa first will allow people from visa required countries to apply for Family Reunification in Norway after the marriage. The point is – everyone who needs a visa and wants to immigrate to Norway has to wait their turn which is usually one year.

If you are from a visa required country and come to Norway to get married you will likely have to leave Norway to apply for Family Reunification. You will have to wait in your country of residence until your application is decided. This means being away from your spouse for at least a year after marriage (unless your spouse joins you in your country and you both wait) rather than before.

But if you don’t require a visa to enter the Schengen area then in general you could get married within three months of arrival and apply for Family Reunification from within Norway (as long as your Fiancé ‘checks out’ ok 😉 ).

Good day,J-Lay:)
Thank you for your great infor.
I just want ask you some questions about documentation for Fiance Visa.
I am Japanese and he is Norwegian citizen.I know all paper work need to be translated in English or Norwegian.. however ,are these documentations has to be all original and from both of us?

These are from UDI website below-

# Documentation of the civil status of the couple. Please note that the National Population Register must approve of this documentation. An application can be rejected if the documentation is not accepted by the National Population Register.
( Is this documentation to show as single status from my country?)

# Birth certificate
(It has be to original? I have this from a long ago translated in Canada at Japan consulate.. can I use it?)

#Information about plans of marriage
(Is this has to be signed by lawyer? or we can just write down our marrige plan when etc??)

If you could give me an advise ,I would really appreciate it. Thank you.

_____________________from L-Jay:

Hi Kana

You keep all originals! Don’t give them away otherwise you’ll have to obtain new ones. What you will need to do is get ‘certified copies’ of the originals. You can usually do this at a Norwegian foreign office. Your Fiancé should be able to send you certified copies of all his documents for you to use too.

Documentation of civil status is a form/certificate from your country of residency stating that you are not married to anyone else and therefore free to marry. You should be able to get one from your country’s Births, Deaths & Marriages Registrar. This is to stop plural marriage – having a spouse in one country and another spouse in a different country. Plural marriage is against the law in Norway.

You should be able to use your English translated birth certificate as long as it is certified. But make sure you get a certified copy of it to hand in – don’t give the original.

You generally shouldn’t need to bring lawyers into the process. Your ‘marriage plans’ should be just details of when and where you will be getting married and who will be marrying you. But read the information requirements carefully – sometimes you are asked for particular information that might need an official statement by you that is certified by a JP or police officer. But this is extremely rare.

When you go to lodge your application or have an interview, make sure you bring all your original documents with you along with the certified copies. Sometimes Norwegian immigration officers like to photocopy your originals and/or check over them. The foreign office may ask for originals due to complications with your application but do not send them by regular post! – personally deliver them if you can. If you have to send them do it by certified mail.

If you are in doubt it is best to contact your nearest Norwegian foreign office and ask them.

Hello! As per fiance permit, UDI says that the fiance(who lives in norway) has to get grade 1 pay scale. My fiance is 21 and she is a student and works part time. I contacted UDI and they say that this law may change from January 2010. I think it is getting hard for family reunion in Norway, it is sad 🙁

____________________
from L-Jay:

This requirement of grade 1 pay scale has already been enforced since August 2007. On the UDI website it says:

The applicant and the person living in Norway need to document an income equivalent of civil service pay grade 1, currently NOK 182.400 before tax. Subsistence must be ensured for the duration of period for which the application is valid.

However, the pay scale changed to grade 8 and NOK 215 200 in 2008. UDI reads:

In order to be granted a permit for family immigration, you must, as a general rule, have secured sufficient financial funds for the time you will be living in Norway. The requirement by an application for family immigration is increased July 21 2008.

The new requirement is civil service pay grade 8, at the time NOK 215 200 per year.

The person applying for a residence permit with a family member in Norway must as a general rule be looked after for the period he or she will be living here. The applicant and the family member in Norway may collectively meet this requirement by documenting a common income that is equivalent to civil service pay grade 8.

For spouses, registered partners, co-habitants and fiancés, the person living in Norway has to meet this requirement if one of the parts is less than 23 years of age.

Hi,i am happy for the good work you are doing with your website.
i am from Kenya but i am married to a french/canadian girl.we are currently living in france now.she request for her D number from norway and she already receive it by mail.i want to know how i can request or apply for my D number with her own information from france like she do. for me i have the right to travel to know without a visa because i have resident permit entitle me for three months stay in norway.

please i wait to know how i will going to do it !!thanks

_____________________from L-Jay:

Hi Ninto

I presume you do not have permanent residency in France? Is your partner a EU citizen? Being an EU citizen makes things a little easier for your partner. UDI says:

Citizens of European Union (EU), citizens covered by the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement and citizens covered by the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) convention have easier access to travel and reside in Norway. As a citizen of the EU/EEA/EFTA, you can freely travel to Norway and start working as soon as you arrive. You can live and work in Norway for up to three months without having to apply for a permit. If you are seeking employment in Norway, you may reside in Norway for six months without a permit.http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=9353

However, if you want to get a work and residency permit it will not be as easy, especially if you still hold a Kenyan citizenship. Kenyans do not have the right to come to Norway without a Visa – but from your comment it sounds like you might have a Schengen visa already – if that right? If so, you are only allowed to be in the Schengen area for more than 3 months out of 6 – whether you are in Norway or France. In order for you to get a work and residency permit in Norway you will need to have a solid job offer from a Norwegian employer. To apply for a work and residency permit you will need to return back to your country of residence, find a job in Norway from your country of residence and then apply to your nearest Norwegian foreign mission. The only other way you could get a work permit in Norway is if you apply for Family Reunification. This also means you have to return to your home country and apply from there. You cannot apply from France unless you live there. UDI says:

Residence permit for foreign nationals who require a visa
Foreign nationals who require a visa must apply for a visa in order to stay in Norway/the Schengen area. The visa may be granted for up to three months, but the length of the stay may also be limited. If you wish to stay in Norway for longer than three months, you must apply for a residence permit. If you wish to work while you are in Norway, you must also apply for a work permit. Please bear in mind that, generally speaking, residence and work permits must be applied for from the country of origin.http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=7420#visa

Also, you cannot look for work in Norway just on a Schengen visa – in fact, it is illegal. A Schengen visa only approves you to visit. If you want to look for work while in Norway you will need to get a special visa that allows you to come to Norway to look for work. However, there are conditions on your level of education and work abilities. UDI says:

Visa for skilled workers/specialists seeking work in Norway (if you have an offer of employment in Norway, or wish to seek work here)
If you qualify as a skilled worker/specialist, you may obtain a visa if you have an offer of employment in Norway, or wish to seek work here. The requirements for such a visa depend on whether or not you have an offer of employment. If you don’t have an offer of employment, you may obtain a visa if you have training equivalent to at least the level of further education.http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=7404#specialist

Immigration to Norway is based on who you are not who your partner is. I know it’s hard, but it’s fair.

Wow, you really opened a can of worms by starting on this subject 🙂 Thanks for posting it though, it’s so hard to find out first-hand information.

Like everyone else I have a couple of questions that I would be very grateful if you could answer.

Our situation:

Me – I’m a New Zealand citizen
Her – She’s a Norwegian citizen
Us – We’ve lived together for more than two years but are unmarried and are not planning to in the near future.
Visa – we’re applying for a family reunification visa under the ‘co-habitant’ category.

The Questions:

1)We are planning to apply from NZ and then go to Norway in time for me to do an intensive Norsk course. The problem is the visa will not have been granted by then. I know I can stay in Norway for 3 months visa-free but not if they have my passport! Did I understand you correctly in thinking that when I apply they hold on to my passport until the visa is granted?? Can I not enter Norway under the visa-waiver while my application is being processed?

2)Will we be subjected to interviews etc before being granted the visa and will this be in NZ or in Norway?

3)The Australian embassy website gives a processing time of up to 6 months. Is this reliable, or is it not safe to make plans with this time-frame in mind?

If you get a chance to answer these questions we would really appreciate it.

Great blog too by the way.

Cheers,

Andy

_____________________from L-Jay:

Hi Andy

1. I know it is logical to do such a thing however once you’ve applied you cannot enter Norway until the application is approved. In fact, you cannot even leave your country of residence. If you do its considered that you residency status has changed and generally cancels your application. UDI says:

In general, you may not enter Norway before a permit has been granted. Therefore you can not apply from Norway. If you are not required to have a visa, you may, however, enter the country and apply from Norway in certain cases. These include when:

Your spouse is a Norwegian national who resides or who intends to take up residence in Norway.
Your spouse has a settlement permit or a permit which can constitute grounds for a settlement permit

As you are not required to have a visa to enter the Schengen area, in general, you are able to enter Norway and then apply from within Norway, however, because you are applying through co-inhabitants, you are not considered ‘family’ and therefore it might frustrate this option. Travelling out of NZ will likely cancel your first application. You will need to call up the Norwegian mission service to check if you have the right to move to Norway and then apply from there.

It is unlikely that the Norwegian Mission will keep your passport. In Norway they would but I don’t think the Mission has the right to hold onto it. When I first applied in Norway UDI held onto my passport for almost six months but when I applied in London they let me hold onto it. This might have been because I had applied previously though. But first applications are very strict. As soon as you leave the country your passport will be registered and Norway will know you have broken your application.

Another, however: All Family Reunification applicants receive up to 3000 hours free Norwegian language lessons. You cannot claim this unless you have your residency ID number in your passport. The schools need your number to allow you into the classes.

2. You will need to have interviews BEFORE the permit is granted. As, in general, you cannot leave NZ they will be conducted while you are in NZ.

3. In general, they say the processing time abroad is quicker than if in Norway because they have less workload. It took over 8 months from me from London (and they already had all my details as it was my second 1st application). I wouldn’t plan anything until your application has been approved. I’ve known people (US citizens) who have had to wait over two years. Application times depends if you have given them all the correct info, and enough info. Once everything is fully filled in and signed then it is put on the waiting list to be approved. I’d suggest you get a confirmation from the Norwegian Mission that they have everything they need from you.

Also remember, your partner will need to earn enough money to pay for your substance and housing. It is at least NOK 215,000 now. However, there are so exceptions:

Exemptions from the subsistence requirement may be made if:
You are the spouse or cohabitant of a Norwegian citizen, provided that both parties are aged 23 or over, or the child of a Norwegian citizenhttp://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=7413

hello L-Jay ,am from morocco,i have applied for Fiancé permit (get married or enter into partnership about 10 months my fiace she is from norway and i just found that she is pregnent,, when she was her for holliday to visit me….did that can help with my casse?

i just want to thank u for all the good jobbs u do for ather ppl,and answer everone:)

____________________from L-Jay:

I think you should definitely include that your fiancé is pregnant in the notes in your application. You might need to get a statement from her saying that the baby is yours and a doctors statement on when the baby will be born. This MIGHT put a rush on things as it MIGHT be considered ‘compassionate grounds’ so you can see the birth of your baby. Call up your foreign mission and ask about it to be sure.

It might be too late help Kathleen but in case anyone new is reading this I thought I’d add that if it is your intention to get married in Norway and you are a Canadian, the Norwegian Skatt(Tax) office where you go to apply for a Marriage License requires proof of some kind that the Canadian is “Eligible for Marriage” i.e. proof that you are single.

Canada does not actually have any kind of standard form that states that you are single. Each Province has their own type of form. I know that in BC you can order a form that states that there is no record of you applying for a marriage certificate in that Province.

If you are in Norway the Canadian Embassy can give you a letter with a long name called “Statement in lieu of certificate of non impediment to marriage for persons wishing to get married outside of Canada”.

The letter from the Embassy looks kind of unofficial so you may have to make an extra special effort to show the person accepting your marriage application that this is indeed an official document. They may need to confirm this with the Canadian Embassy. It usually takes about 4 weeks before you get the Marriage License so be sure to apply early before your 90 days runs out.

_____________________from L-Jay:

Good info for Canadians wishing to marry a Norwegian in Norway. Thanks.

Hi,
We are a indian based software company and some months back opened a sales software office in Oslo, Norway. We want to appoint a man(he has a bachelor degree in computer) from India to look after the office in oslo and do software support activities.So we want to apply a long term workpermit for him.

1.Our main bank account is in India, should we have to show our norwegian account bank balance to apply his visa?

2.What minimum pay we should give to him that should not hamper the visa process? how much tax we should pay to the Norwegian Govt.?

3.should we have to pay any social security for him? Please let me know what other things we should keep in mind before we start processing his visa. comSolution,Norway.

Hi L-Jay. Excellent Blog. Thank you very much.
My wife and I dream of living in Norway the rest of our lives and have children there. We are from Colombia South America. This is our plan:

I have applied for some universities (Oslo and Bergen) for a Master Degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Information Technologies next year (Autumn 2010). I am a web developer. If I am admitted my wife and I would travel together and get both a part-time job and study Norwegian. (I have already started to study Norwegian by myself).

What do you think about this approach? Can my wife get a visa to stay with me while I am studying and can we continue working there in order to apply for a residence? Can you give us an advice?

Thank you very much in advance.

_____________________from L-Jay:

Hi Gabriel

When you get offerred a place on a course you will need to apply for a study visa and at the same time apply for Family Immigration with a Student in Norway for your family. Read: http://www.udi.no/templates/Tema.aspx?id=9278 You will need to prove that you have enough finances to support yourself and your family while you are studying in Norway. Both you and your wife will be able to work max 20 hours on the Student visa.
As part of the Student Visa you and your family are required to return to your home country after your studies have been completed. You will not be able to stay in Norway even if you find a job. As part of the Work Permit application process you have to apply from your country of residence, not within Norway. This means you can’t stay in Norway after your studies.

However, the experience and education that you will gain in Norway will be very helpful for you to return. IT jobs in Norway are quite open to foreigners and some companies have an English-speaking policy. Also being in Norway will give you the opportunities to network and check out employers which will greatly help you to get work.

L-Jay,
I just wanted to say thank you for all the information. My family immigration to Norway just got approved. I should say your blogg has given me confort and hope in the last 10 months I have been waiting for an answer from UDI. Thank you!!!!